Francisco Gonzalez, Blanca Cimadevila, Julio Garcia-Comesaña, Susana Cerqueiro, Eladio Andion, Jorge Prado, Jorge Bermudez and Felix Rubial
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze a teleconsultation modality based on a simple telephone call, using either landline or mobile phone, made available to more…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze a teleconsultation modality based on a simple telephone call, using either landline or mobile phone, made available to more than two million people. Telecommunication systems are an increasingly common feature in modern healthcare. However, making teleconsultations available to the entire population covered by a public health system is a challenging goal.
Design/methodology/approach
This retrospective longitudinal observational study analyzed how this modality was used at the primary care level in Galicia, a region in the Northwest of Spain, in 2014 and 2015, focusing on demand, gender and age preferences, rural vs urban population and efficiency.
Findings
Of 28,472,852 consultations requested in this period, 9.0 percent were telephone consultations. Women requested more telephone consultations (9.9 percent of total consultations) than men (7.7 percent of total consultations). The highest demand occurred for the over 85 age group for both men and women. In both years, 2014 and 2015, the number of telephone consultations per inhabitant was higher in urban (0.53 and 0.69) than in rural areas (0.34 and 0.47). In 10.9 percent of cases, the telephone consultations required further face-to-face consultation.
Originality/value
Conventional voice telephone calls can efficiently replace conventional face-to-face consultations in primary healthcare in roughly 10 percent of cases. Women are more likely than men to use primary care services in both face-to-face and telephone consultation modalities. Public healthcare systems should consider implementing telephone consultations to deliver their services.
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Marlene Bartolomé Sáez, Antolin E. Hernández Battez, Jorge Espina Casado, José L. Viesca Rodríguez, Alfonso Fernández-González and Rubén González Rodriguez
The purpose of this paper is to study the antifriction, antiwear and tribolayer formation properties of the trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinate…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the antifriction, antiwear and tribolayer formation properties of the trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinate ionic liquid (IL) as additive at 1 wt.% in two base oils and their mixtures, comparing the results with those of a commercial oil.
Design/methodology/approach
The mixture of the base oils used in the formulation of the commercial oil SAE 0W20 plus the IL was tested under rolling/sliding and reciprocating conditions to determine the so-called Stribeck curve, the tribolayer formation and the antifriction and antiwear behaviors.
Findings
The use of this IL as additive in these oils does not change their viscosity; improves the antifriction and antiwear properties of the base oils, making equal or outperforming these properties of the SAE 0W20; and the thickness and formation rate of the tribolayer resulting from the IL-surface interaction is highly dependent on the type of base oil and influence on the friction and wear results.
Originality/value
The use of this IL allows to replace partial or totally commercial antifriction and antiwear additives.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-05-2020-0179/
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Carolina Rivas, Juan José Tarí and Jorge Pereira-Moliner
This paper analyzes how quality management in Ecuador’s national parks is explained through the quality practices contained in Deming’s quality principles from the point of view…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper analyzes how quality management in Ecuador’s national parks is explained through the quality practices contained in Deming’s quality principles from the point of view of employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative research was conducted with the participation of 254 employees from all national parks in Ecuador who rated the quality management practices (leadership, talent management, work climate and training) in their respective parks.
Findings
The results show that leadership, talent management, work climate and training significantly explain the service quality in the national parks. This study contributes to the adaptation of Deming’s quality principles to national parks via individual and joint analysis of the relationship between leadership, talent management, work climate and training with service quality in order to highlight which practices are the most important to service quality.
Originality/value
The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the key factors that influence service quality in the National Parks of Ecuador. Its multidisciplinary approach and exhaustive research make this work an invaluable tool for understanding and improving the preservation of natural resources and the tourism experience in these protected areas.
Propósito
Este trabajo analiza cómo la gestión de la calidad en los parques nacionales del Ecuador se explica a través de las prácticas de calidad recogidas en los principios de la calidad de Deming desde el punto de vista de los empleados.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Se realizó una investigación cuantitativa en la que participaron 254 empleados de todos los parques nacionales del Ecuador quienes valoraron las prácticas de gestión de la calidad (liderazgo, gestión de talento, clima laboral y formación) en sus respectivos parques.
Resultados
Los resultados muestran que el liderazgo, la gestión del talento, el clima laboral y la formación explican significativamente la calidad de servicio en los parques nacionales. Este estudio contribuye en la adaptación de los principios de calidad de Deming a parques nacionales a través del análisis individual y conjunto de la relación entre liderazgo, gestión de talento, clima laboral y formación con la calidad del servicio para destacar qué prácticas son las más importantes para la calidad del servicio ofrecido.
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In lieu of recent violent acts and the deaths of quare individuals‐queers of colour (e.g. Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, Carl Walker‐Hoover, Jaheem Herrera, Sakia Gunn, etc.) this…
Abstract
In lieu of recent violent acts and the deaths of quare individuals‐queers of colour (e.g. Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, Carl Walker‐Hoover, Jaheem Herrera, Sakia Gunn, etc.) this piece remembers their lives, while reimagining our current sociopolitical landscape (Johnson, 2006). Recognising the spiritual as political (Jacqui Alexander, 2005), this work calls upon our collective memories‐psychological, bodily and sacred‐to remember the tragedies and lessons of love necessary to heal our collective wounds. Through a polyvocal montage performance text, life, living, love, and quareness are explored. Believing love as the core of Christianity, and the necessity of love to sustain life, revolution, justice and equality, A Call to Love questions our love practices, urging us to operate from that commonality.
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Jorge Alejandro Silva and María Antonieta Andrade
The purpose of this paper is to analyse how solar energy is harnessed and implemented in Mexico. This paper presents a diachronic analysis of the divergent literature presented…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse how solar energy is harnessed and implemented in Mexico. This paper presents a diachronic analysis of the divergent literature presented into the subject with the themes being divided substantially.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used at least five methods in the identification of the studies with the first being the use of the SCImago Institution Ranking followed by the use of Scopus for journal evaluation. SCImago was used to determine the efficiency of the journals with the Newcastle Ottawa scale allowing for the evaluation of the different case study articles presented on Mexico. The fourth tool was a 21-item STROBE checklist after which the Web of Science was used to determine the authenticity levels of the identified articles.
Findings
The implementation of solar energy technologies is still novel in Mexico with private and public entities working together towards building sustainable options. In addition, it cites the divergent merits that might stem from the use of solar energy technologies.
Originality/value
A myriad of articles has been presented concerning solar energy in Mexico, but no attempt has been made to synthesize the evidence and arguments made in this significant body of research. The subsequent review is original with its findings being valuable for current and future research.
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Grace Guevara-Rosero, Cristian Carrión-Cauja, Lizbeth Simbaña-Landeta and Segundo Camino-Mogro
The service industry has become an important sector for the economic growth, particularly in developing countries. In this context, the aim of this article is to compare the…
Abstract
Purpose
The service industry has become an important sector for the economic growth, particularly in developing countries. In this context, the aim of this article is to compare the productivity determinants across firms operating in low and high knowledge intensity service sectors (low knowledge intensive sectors (LKIS) and high knowledge intensive sectors (HKIS)) in Ecuador.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use a two-step estimation method. The firm productivity is estimated in the first step and the productivity determinants in the second step. To achieve the objective, the authors use an unbalanced panel database on the financial statements from formal Ecuadorian firms for the period 2007–2018.
Findings
The authors’ results show that LKIS firms are slightly more labor-intensive compared to HKIS firms. Productivity determinants are similar across HKIS and LKIS firms, except for exports and market concentration. HKIS firms are more productive when the competition level is low, indicating that higher market power is associated with higher productivity. The influence of taxes on productivity depends on firm size. Small and medium-sized firms are more negatively affected than large firms.
Practical implications
Taxes should be designed considering the size of the companies, since these could affect their productivity. Thus, lower taxes to small and medium firms may reduce firm size inequality. In addition, the acquired knowledge of HKIS should be spread to other firms becoming a positive externality instead of an entry barrier.
Originality/value
Despite the productivity determinants of the service sector has been recently explored, in contrast to the manufacturing sector, individual and contextual determinants are less identified. In this paper the authors use a large set of firm characteristics that might affect productivity in service firms.
Propósito
La industria de servicios se ha convertido en un sector importante para el crecimiento económico, particularmente en los países en desarrollo. En este contexto, el objetivo de este artículo es comparar los determinantes de la productividad entre empresas que operan en sectores de servicios de baja y alta intensidad de conocimiento (LKIS y HKIS) en Ecuador.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Utilizamos un método de estimación de dos pasos. En primer lugar, estimamos la productividad de las empresas y, en segundo lugar, los determinantes de la productividad. Para esto, utilizamos una base de datos de panel no balanceado sobre los estados financieros de las empresas formales ecuatorianas de los años 2007 a 2018.
Hallazgos
Nuestros resultados muestran que las empresas LKIS son ligeramente más intensivas en mano de obra en comparación con las empresas HKIS. Los determinantes de la productividad son similares entre las empresas HKIS y LKIS, excepto por las exportaciones y la concentración del mercado. Las empresas HKIS son más productivas cuando el nivel de competencia es bajo, lo que indica que un mayor poder de mercado está asociado con una mayor productividad. La influencia de los impuestos sobre la productividad depende del tamaño de la empresa. Las pequeñas y medianas empresas se ven más negativamente afectadas que las grandes empresas.
Implicaciones prácticas
Los impuestos deben diseñarse considerando el tamaño de las empresas, ya que podrían afectar su productividad. Por lo tanto, impuestos más bajos para las pequeñas y medianas empresas pueden reducir la desigualdad entre el tamaño de las empresas. Además, el conocimiento que tienen las HKIS debe extenderse a otras empresas convirtiéndose en una externalidad positiva en lugar de una barrera de entrada.
Originalidad/valor
A pesar de que los determinantes de la productividad del sector servicios se han explorado recientemente, en contraste con el sector manufacturero, los determinantes individuales y contextuales están menos identificados. En este artículo utilizamos un amplio conjunto de características de las empresas que podrían afectar la productividad en las empresas de servicios.
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E.J. Sellountos, Jorge Tiago and Adelia Sequeira
This paper aims to describe the 2D meshless local boundary integral equation (LBIE) method for solving the Navier–Stokes equations.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the 2D meshless local boundary integral equation (LBIE) method for solving the Navier–Stokes equations.
Design/methodology/approach
The velocity–vorticity formulation is selected to eliminate the pressure gradient of the equations. The local integral representations of flow kinematics and transport kinetics are derived. The integral equations are discretized using the local RBF interpolation of velocities and vorticities, while the unknown fluxes are kept as independent variables. The resulting volume integrals are computed using the general radial transformation algorithm.
Findings
The efficiency and accuracy of the method are illustrated with several examples chosen from reference problems in computational fluid dynamics.
Originality/value
The meshless LBIE method is applied to the 2D Navier–Stokes equations. No derivatives of interpolation functions are used in the formulation, rendering the present method a robust numerical scheme for the solution of fluid flow problems.
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The jailing of Humala brings to five the number of former presidents facing legal problems in relation to either corruption, human rights violations, or both. Humala's lawyers…
Details
DOI: 10.1108/OXAN-DB222190
ISSN: 2633-304X
Keywords
Geographic
Topical
Most participant parties lack strong roots in society and are little more than the electoral vehicles of their founders/leaders.